Securing Delay-Tolerant Networks with BPSec

1Introduction

Delay-Tolerant Networking (DTN) refers to both a networking architecture and a set of protocols and practices used to instantiate that architecture. One unique characteristic of this architecture is that it combines the concepts of store-and-forward and network overlay to federate otherwise disparate networks. In doing so, the DTN architecture provides resilience to challenging conditions that would break more commonplace network architectures.

This chapter discusses the design, implementation, and configuration of security for stressed networking environments using the protocols and extensions built to secure the DTN environment. This discussion includes the rationale for the DTN architecture, how solutions to that architecture can apply to other stressed environments, and why securing this architecture requires new security mechanisms.

This chapter provides three different but equally important introductions to this material.

1. Why a DTN Architecture: Expectations for what a computer network should do, and the way in which it should operate, stem from experiences with existing networks. There is a growing desire to more pervasively instrument, monitor, and interact with our environment – both on and off planet Earth. Doing so requires expanding our concept of what a computer network is and how it should operate.
2. What Motivated This Book: This book is written to answer questions relating to the design, implementation, and anticipated usage of DTN security mechanisms. ...